New laws to protect debtors from aggressive bailiffs will be introduced in England and Wales next year, the government announced.
Bailiffs will be banned from making late-night visits to collect debts and from entering homes where only children are present, the Ministry of Justice said.
New safeguards will also prevent use of force by bailiffs, who are employed by many companies, councils and courts to collect unpaid debts.
“For too long bailiffs have gone unregulated, allowing a small minority to give the industry a bad name,” said Justice Minister Helen Grant.
“Too many people in debt have had the additional stress of dealing with aggressive bailiffs who often charge extortionate fees.”
Under the changes, bailiffs will no longer be able to set their own fees and there will be new restrictions on what property they can seize.
They will have to undergo a compulsory training and certification scheme and those who breach the rules will be barred from the industry.
“These new laws will clean up the industry and ensure bailiffs play by the rules or face being prevented from practising,” Grant said.
The changes follow a government consultation by the Ministry of Justice last year.
New laws to 'clean up' bailiff practices
